Plucky Titans overcome error-riddled Knights

IT was a day which was all about fighting spirit and there was plenty of it on show from both sides, but ultimately Gold Coast handled the "Rise for Alex" occasion better with a 22-8 victory over an error-riddled Newcastle.

There wasn't a dry eye in Hunter Stadium as the 26,401-strong crowd rose as one for young Knight Alex McKinnon who led both teams out onto the field of play as "Day by Day" rang out over the loud speakers.

A chant of "Alex, Alex, Alex" reverberated around the ground as the inspirational McKinnon was brought to tears.

"Obviously it was a big occasion for everyone in Newcastle and Alex in particular and we had a job to do out there today and we just didn't do it," he said.

Mullen admitted to also almost being overcome with emotion.

"When the crowd went up I had a quick look over at Macca and he was shedding a tear. It was very hard for me to see that, it was very emotional but it's good to see he's doing well," he said.

After Don and Taylor crossed, the harder the Knights tried to get back into the game the more errors they made and their final completion rate of about 60% was never going to be good enough.

Coach Bennett conceded the "crazy season" had taken its toll.

"I thought they (the crowd) deserved a better performance from us today and it didn't happen from us," he said.

"It was pretty moving before the game when Alex came onto the ground and their response to him. I thought those things kind of inspire you a little ... they do me anyway, but we're all different."

A Mark Minichiello try in the second half extended the lead to 16 before a brief Knights fightback saw them close to within eight points with 10 minutes remaining after tries to Joey Leilua and Tyrone Roberts gave them a glimmer of hope.

But it wasn't to be.

Titans centre James Roberts put an exclamation point on the Titans ambush when he chased a clever Daniel Mortimer kick to score in the north-eastern corner a minute from full time.

Bailey was full of praise for the young Titan.

"Robbo is an athletic machine and we planned to give him as much ball as possible," he said.

We are live from Hunter Stadium on an overcast and cold Sunday afternoon in the Hunter where Alex McKinnon will be in the house very soon. Holden Cup has just concluded and the Knights remain on top of the table after a 42-12 victory. Team news soon.

4: The Knights take the ball down the short side, but Gold Coast have touched it before it goes in touch. Knights scrum.

5: PENALTY Knights. Mortimer offside.

5: Snowden puts the ball down after a short ball from Smith. Good defence from Gold Coast.

6: PENALTY Knights. Gold Coast again offside.

7: Some brilliant goal-line defence again from the Titans repels the Knights. Falloon is down requiring medical attention.

8: Mortimer goes to the air and Mamo juggles the ball before coming down with it.

9: Gordon comes up with a good catch from a Mullen torpedo bomb.

10: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Gold Coast try.

10: No try is the ruling after Takairangi won the race to the ball after a second kick. 20m restart.

11: PENALTY Titans. Gagai ruled to have taken too long to get off Taylor.

12: Takairangi sets it up for Myles who knocks on. Knights scrum.

13: Darius Boyd comes back onto the field of play as Clydsdale throws a forward pass to Leilua from the scrum.

14: Mortimer trickles a kick into the in-goal and Mamo runs it dead. Line dropout.

15: Great tackle from Rochow pulls Douglas down as he throws a pass into the arms of Clydsdale.

17: Mullen slips as he goes to kick before getting back up off the ground to trickle a kick into touch a metre from the Titans line.

19: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS Scored by Anthony Don. Kick to come.Anthony Don opens the scoring after James Roberts got on the outside of Leilua to take off down the western touchline. He drew Boyd before finding Don on the inside to cross untouched.

48: Mullen adds his name to the sheet of players making an error. Titans scrum.

48: A knock on from the Gold Coast is missed by the referees as they head over half way.

50: Another error this time from the Titans gives the Knights possession back.

51: The Knights again threaten the Titans line and another error is forthcoming. Titans scrum.

53: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Gold Coast try.

53: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS Scored by Mark Minichiello. Kick to come.Mark Minichiello scores another Gold Coast try to extend the visitor's lead after some hot potato play which saw Dave Taylor wrestle out of the tackle from Uate before flick passing to Minichiello to cross out wide.

54: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS Conversion attempt by Kevin Gordon unsuccessful.Gordon hangs the ball out to the right but the wind can't bring it back. No goal.

55: Forward pass to Minichiello from dummy half. Knights scrum.

57: The Knights throw the ball around on the last but as has been the case all afternoon they throw the ball to the touchie. Titans scrum.

58: PENALTY Titans. Knights ruled to have given too much in the play-the-ball.

59: Mortimer tries to kick into the in-goal but Roberts is back for the Knights.

60: PENALTY Knights. Bailey takes too long to get off the tackled player.

61: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS Scored by Joseph Leilua. Kick to come.Leilua finally gets a try for the Knights to put them on the board to give them a chance of a comeback. Plenty of offloads started with Smith and then Mason who found Boyd to pass to Leilua who ran 30m to score out wide.

62: PENALTY Knights. Titans ruled to have been in front of the kicker at the kick-off. Knights back on the attack.

64: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Knights try.

64: No try the decision. Boyd ruled to have knocked on and the Titans will feed a scrum.

65: Mortimer goes to the air again and Mamo comes up with a good catch.

66: The Knights pass the ball to Gagai who gets out of the tackle of Taylor before Minichiello touches the pass and knocks on. Knights scrum.

66: The Knights kick off the scrum from Mullen looking for Boyd but the ball bounces away from the fullback which sums up the Knights afternoon.

68: Mullen goes to the air and Faifai Loa nearly runs the length but Boyd comes up with the tackle.

70: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS Scored by Tyrone Roberts. Kick to come.Roberts crosses out wide for the Knights as they moved the ball down the Titans right edge. Big kick coming up from the eastern touchline.